News

JRC and Job Centre Plus Youth Hub: One Year Later

Over the past year, John Ruskin College has worked in partnership with the Department for Work & Pensions and Jobcentre Plus Croydon to support unemployed 18–24-year-olds with their search for work via mentoring; career information, advice and guidance; short courses and follow-up. During this time frame over 200 people have engaged with the Hub via a session with a Career’s Advisor which led to 122 enrolments onto short courses and over 40 progressions into paid work or full-time employment to date.

The Hub has run or signed people up to a variety of courses that supported people into work such as a Construction Sector Based Work Academy, Employability Skills, Digital Skills for Work, ESOL, English, Maths and others.

The Construction Sector Based Academy Programme (SWAP) is in collaboration with Willmot Dixon where the learners gain employment skills, a Health & Safety in a Construction Environment Level 1, a CSCS card, work experience with Willmott Dixon and a guaranteed interview.

SWAP student presenting ideas to classmates and tutors 

The Hub also hosted a number of events like the 18-24 Career Fair, which gave Universal Credit recipients the opportunity to meet a variety of employers and training providers as well as attend employment workshops, and the Hospitality Recruitment Day, which was in partnership with Off to Work where they offered participants the opportunity to learn about the industry, develop the skills needed and sign up to work for them. 

Employers from the 18-24 Careers Fair
 

One of the success stories of the Youth Hub was Nathan Simmons who has recently started as an Admin Apprentice for the Hub. In the summer, Nathan was claiming Universal Credit whilst searching for work and was referred to the Youth Hub. He met a Career Advisor and was enrolled onto our 3-day Employability course where he learned about searching for work, CVs and interviews. As part of his follow-up, he was signposted to the vacant apprenticeship position at the college and after going through the application and interview process he started in his new role in November 2022.

In 2023 the Hub will continue to run, delivering Sector Based Work Academies, Digital programmes, Green programmes and more for those that are unemployed and those that are employed and looking to upskill to progress their career.

If you are interested in the courses that the Hub can offer, please contact youthhub@johnruskin.ac.uk.